36 weeks and counting the days to delivery

Monday night I was not able to find the right sleeping position and needless to say I did not sleep well. Tuesday I knew I had back-to-back meetings that requires me to be prepared and mentally alert. How can I be when I did not have much sleep the night before?

After confirming the arrival of my second order from Nek Rock, and opening the USPS parcel eagerly to see the contents of my frivolous spending, I decided that I was not up to the day at all and told MrM that I needed to see the gynaecologist today since we would not be able to make it on the scheduled appointment on Thursday.

We went, and after waiting awhile, saw the doctor and he confirmed that the baby's size is 36 weeks, weighing already est 2.7kg and placenta is maturing very nicely. And he thinks the delivery will be earlier than later. In order to prepare for the earlier part, he decided on admitting me to GIMC to administer Dexa shots that will help mature the baby's lungs.

I have therefore been here for a day and a half, Dexa administered at 4pm yesterday and 5:30am this morning. These shots are so painful! Nothing beats staying in the hospital to rest, do nothing, relax and not worry so much about work and having a good night's sleep with the help of sleeping tablets. Last night was probably the best sleep I had for a very long time....

MrM went home to pack clothes, toiletries, and very important notebook and internet access and came back around 7pm with Aliah. MrM and Aliah had dinner at D*me downstairs and I had hot chocolate. MrM had spicy olio, Aliah had her usual favourite, fish and chips. It was very relaxed I thought and I had a bit more focus and energy to entertain Aliah a bit. They left last night at about 8:30pm to be in time to pick up Zarif from tuition at 9:30pm.

Today MrM came early to bring me my underwear (he forgot to pack those the day before) and I was underwear-less last night. He went to renew the Accord's insurance and road tax, Dr Nik came and said that I could go out provided I inform the nurses. Quickly called MrM, who was already done with the car insurance and road tax renewal and said let's go out and have lunch together. We had early lunch and then off we went to The Curve to buy some more baby stuff and we bought the bath tub, the carry cot neck snuggle support, blanket and to Ikea to buy a table to put the baby bath tub on. And other things not necessary I thought.

There was one more trip we made to settle the refund of the Brevi bath tub purchase at Planete Enfants that was not to be delivered on time. I don't want to dwell on what went on today. Sufficient to say that the whole experience at Planete Enfants was a bad one and I do not ever want to go there anymore! Customer service is Greek to these people at the rate they went on and on!

A good friend came to visit and we had a nice talk first in the room and then later at D*me. We were room-mates for a good 2 or 3 years in boarding school and although we kept in touch, I have not had the chance to have a one-on-one conversation at this age with her like we did today. Thanks again for your time. It meant a lot to me. At times like this when I also have insecurities of my own, I relish these conversations that allow me to draw from your views, experiences and more importantly your strength.

I am now back into these four walls, another CTG (heartbeat and contraction monitor) scheduled at 9pm. On a more positive note, Munirah has improved significantly evidenced by her first term results and I am very happy for her. That was a good morale booster and if she maintains her performance, MrM will have to dish out the money to buy her the DSLR.

MrM, despite my ups and downs with him this pregnancy, actually has been very supportive of me sometimes at the expense of his health, especially in entertaining my eating idiosyncracies. He rubs my back in the middle of the night when I can't sleep, he showers me with love when I feel so insecure about my body, my skin and the scars from scratching. He sends the kids to tuition, piano classes, camps, their school needs, bicycle rides, soccer games, fooling around with them when all I do is sleep or lounge around in the bedroom. He has been fixing things around the house, plans for this and that, running errands, sending me here and there and I am ever so grateful to my dearest husband for all he does and more for his tender loving care.

Happy Father's Day to all fathers and a special one for the one love of my life, MrM.